It was approximately 1 year ago that i returned from my life in Budapest. It seems like a year ago and it seems like yesterday. It's a weird thing, looking back on it, to try and remember why you left when at the time leaving was the only thing on your mind. I think it's like that with all journeys. Eventually, most of the badness fades away and you are left with the memories of the good times, friends and experiences. That's the way it should be i suppose. Who wants to sit around and reflect back on shitty times!
The four of us that started that adventure a couple of summers ago are now in completely different places. Here is a sampling of the crazy lives that four buds chilling in Budapest only a year ago now experience:
Killer Dave: "Greetings from Kuwait City! This place would be mecca if it had chicks! Its got every fast food and american restaurant chain you could ask for. Booze is illegal, but i can get it, so its just the chicks that are lacking! Yes i left the chick mecca of the world to pursue new wild and crazy adventures! GO LEAFS GO! They did beat the flyers right?HA HA HA. Kuwait actually has 2 skating rinks, one of which sustains a hockey league. The sultans like to skate it up! Scotty, can i be your middle east correspondent? Well, i gotta go feed my camel. Lates!"
Wilbo: "status quo here (South Korea), still working my balls off and going down the list of my creditors. gotta couple of girlfriends which helps to pass the lonely nights. Jude is coming in a week and then we are heading to Thailand for 17 days, should be a total blast. I'll be on the hunt for some peyote for sure. miss your fine ass."
JB: (JB's still in Budapest) "Scotty, long time no speak. I have some bad news. One of the last great old-school homemade websites has bitten the dust. Apparently you can no longer "bathe with Jesus". The Christians have mobilized and scooped the domain. In that light I have some great replacements - www.engrish.com and the classic www.jumptheshark.com. Both harken back to the days of eggs, mister noodle, and the flatbed toilets on Krudy. I also think that since spring is upon us and a young man's fancy usually turns to x-rated pursuits (especially here in BP!) that that old classic "The Hot Karl" needs to be dusted off an shared with a new generation. (It's coming, kids.) Easy does it my Canuckastani brothers and sisters."
Me: "Monday, April 7, 2003. Wake up to the radio weather forecast of -4 and potentially 20 more cm of snow accompanied by strong winds. Fan-fucking-tastic. WHAT THE FUCK???"
As you can see, we are all doing well (although from above it appears i got the short end of the stick ;) and living thousands of miles apart when we once shared a four bedroom flat in the heart of Budapest, Hungary only a year ago. To the boys - godspeed, all the best and keep your stick on the ice.
Scotty, I just returned back to Iraq a week ago from my first R&R. I went to Shen's wedding in Warsaw...pitched a tent on the floor! Ah Baghdad livin is tough! Went to BP after that, did da 'Cart' jammed as ever, discovered the great world of the R&T after a good day of walkin' the fine streets of BP, and then to return to Baghdad and get stuck in the middle of a fire fight. Keep on rockin' in the free world fella!
Posted by: Killer on September 20, 2003 11:57 AMI was going to use the once ubiquitously known "deceptively sexy Finlayson" but nostalgic seemed to fit and I didn't want to send the wrong message to those no acquainted with the JB humour tip. Yes I am indeed single for the time being. White see-through pants and thongs abound here in BP. Sean is getting married so "Motty" has already started to prepare for the occassion. Shen is also getting married this summer so the havoc will begin shortly on the Stag party circuit. I heard Kentish is getting married as well I think but I haven't seen him in ages (plus he is British so how rowdy could it be?). Rock on my friend and alway remember two key things "If there is wine in the hand..from beer you are banned!" and "Tudom or nem tudom that is always the question"
Posted by: JB on April 30, 2003 10:07 AMROMKERT IS OPEN. The 3 greatest words that can be spoken in springtime Budapest. and jb, correct me if i'm wrong but you are still currently single, no? the kart beckons jbs and shen breckons. do it up lads. ps - "deceptively nostalgic" - a fine term as well. is the deceptive part the only-a-year-ago nostalgia or the fact it's from me? just checking, man. \m/
Posted by: scotty on April 30, 2003 08:22 AMIt is really odd but for some reason I felt the urge to check in on cowbell today. We are heading into a 5 day Hungarian long weekend and the weather is awesome and the Kart is open. I repeat "Romkert is open". Scotty my "deceptively nostalgic" friend you are still missed in the downtown city of Pest.Today is Shen's last day with the company before moving to Kabul so it looks to be a big one in Budapest and in Warsaw this weekend. Killer "Don't you go dyin' on me now!". Anyway in closing I just want to leave everyone with a classic inebriated Scotty quote. Confronted by an irate Hungarian neighbor who muttered a curse about us 4 being students as complained about the noise from our makeshift stereo at 7 frickin PM! "Students? I'll show you mutherfuckin' students! Arghhhhhh Yaaaaaaaaaah!" All the best my friend.
Posted by: JB on April 30, 2003 06:37 AMthat's totally cool. sometimes i really wish i could find so many people that i think about but have no CLUE where in the world they might be. but, still, memories are wonderful things.
Posted by: leblanc on April 28, 2003 09:35 PM